Signs of Spring in the Woods: MyPictureDay + WednesdayWalk + MakeMe...

Contributing to 4 Challenges at the same time, that's what I want to do today. This post is about a long relaxing photography walk, new life growing in spring and hopefully some of the photos will make you smile.

One Post : Four Challenges
^{#Photo52 . #MyPictureDay . #MakeMeSmile . #WednesdayWalk}

Near my hometown Klagenfurt there is a reservoir called Drau Reservoir Annabrücke or Ferlach Reservoir, where I go for a walk quite often. On nice days there are a lot of people there, whom I can hear but can only see in the distance walking on the other side of the lake.

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/7.1 . 1/40 sec . @105 mm}

Fresh grown flowers, green leaves and new life - this little baby spider on the leaf was only about 2 millimeters long. It was quite windy, so I was glad that I could get this almost sharp shot.

^{Canon EOS R | EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS II USM
ISO 100 . f/4 . 1/30 sec . @167 mm}

The way beside the lake I use is nice, but other than seeing a fisherman every now and then, in a year I don't meet more people than I have fingers on one hand (Hive account@pixelfan: that's 5 at most 😉).

This is probably due to the fact that at the end of the way there is a power plant that makes a loud noise, but this is not really annoying. After the power plant, the way in the forest runs along the lake, which is more of a small trail than a nice walking path.

^{Canon EOS R | EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS II USM
ISO 100 . f/6.3 . 1/15 sec . @147 mm}

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/4.5 . 1/25 sec . @105 mm}

Many trees already sprout new life and have flowers and buds, but some seem to be still in hibernation and take their time.

^{Canon EOS R | EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS II USM
ISO 100 . f/16 . 1/13 sec . @200 mm}

New small plants grow from the driest rocks.

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/7.1 . 1/8 sec . @105 mm}

That there are less people is probably also a reason why beavers have settled in this area of the lake.

When I get there very early in the morning, I always see some of these big swimming rodents, and sometimes they don't flee immediately, but watch me from a safe distance in the water and then keep swimming when they find out that I mean no danger.

Maybe I should try to take a few photos of them again soon, because if I am prepared for it, I can sometimes take sharp wildlife photos ...

... because last week suddenly two deer crossed my path and I wasn't prepared for that.

The deer were as surprised as I was, but none of us three was scared. They nevertheless retreated and went down to the water because they apparently wanted to "swim around" me.

Unfortunately, my camera settings were still on "flower photography" and I was so surprised that in the few seconds that it all took, I was only able to take a single photo on which at least something is to see and recognize.

The next time I pass this spot, these two baby ferns will probably be fully grown.

This is my Image for the #Photo52 Competition "Life"

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/7.1 . 1/5 sec . @105 mm}

At the end of the somewhat walkable trail, a beautiful panoramic view awaits you and then there is a small stream with waterfalls, which flows into the lake in a kind of lagoon.

Nobody has ever been there at the same time when I was there. I have always had this place for me, and more than once I have been sitting there and replied to comments on my posts 😊

The path ends at this lagoon and you have to find your own way if you want to go further on. The slope down to the water is relatively steep, overgrown and partly slippery due to the thick layer of autumn leaves, but it is beautifully calm.

A day of photography for me looks like this often, or better said most times: a relaxing walk at the lake, far away from people and every now and then there is a little surprise in form of a wild animal or a bird or just a very nice flower.

So, this was the end of my walk that day last week, and on my way back I have shot some photos of polants and flowers, which I want to show you too.

I know that you can eat some flowers. I don't know if this flower is edible, but someone or something wanted to know it and took a few bites.

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/5.6 . 1/30 sec . @105 mm}

I took this photo because this brown shell of a bud was a nice contrast to the fresh green leaves. But at home on the big monitor I saw that it looked as if the brown thing was hovering over the leaf. After meeting the deer, this image brought another smile on my face.

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/18 . 0.3 sec . @105 mm}

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/7.1 . 1/5 sec . @105 mm}

This flower was really small and the flower was definitely not much bigger than the little baby spider.

^{Canon EOS R | SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM
ISO 100 . f/10 . 1/30 sec . @105 mm}

Information about the Challenges

Photo52 Challenge
^{#photo52, 2020 Challenge, Week Number 17}

That's a great photo challenge. Hive account@wwwiebe started the project "Photo 52" and created the Steem Account Hive account@photo52.

The contest defines a topic for each week of the year that runs for 7 days. The rules are simple and are announced every Wednesday on Hive account@photo52 with the post of new theme of the week.

The topic of this Week #17 is Life.

You can find more information on the topic of this week, the rules and prizes at @photo52/photo-52-2020-challenge-week-number-17.

MyPictureDay Challenge

Tim Said Hive account@timsaid wants to know how your Photography day looks like. Grab your camera (or mobile phone), take some shots and share them on Hive! There are very nice prices - the contest is supported and sponsored by Hive account@blocktrades and Hive account@theycallmedan.

For more information please click to Hive account@timsaid's blog or directly to the currently running Round 3 of the #MyPictureDay challenge: https://peakd.com/hive-127914/@timsaid/mypictureday-challenge-round-3-winners-announcement-round-2

WednesdayWalk & MakeMeSmile Challenge

The #WednesdayWalk challenge is hosted by my friend Hive account@tattoodjay and is collaborating with the #MakeMeSmile challenge hosted by Hive account@elizacheng.

The rules are simple and can be found on the blogs of Hive account@tattoodjay and Hive account@elizacheng. All in all you should make a nice walk and tell us about it with some photos.
Not only in these hard times we all are experiencing at the moment smiling is very important. So, include something in your post that makes not only you smile - it should make us all smile :)

And last but not least, as always in these days

Stay at home, take care and stay healthy!
Bleibt zu Hause, passt auf und bleibt gesund!

Location / Standort: Drau Reservoir on Google Maps

All photos were shot with the Canon EOS R and one of these lenses: Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS II USM, Canon EF 16-35mm 1:4 L IS USM, Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 L STM, SIGMA 105mm 1:2,8 DG MACRO HSM, SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C.

I leave all EXIF and IPTC information stored in the pictures.

If you like my photos I would appreciate an upvote, nice comment or maybe you want to share my post on your blog 😊 ... and maybe you would like to follow me, so that you never miss a post from me.